Honors for Mexico aid
The Hermosa Beach Fire Department’s Paul Hawkins, Mike Garofano and Kim Bridges are honored before the City Council for their years-long efforts to establish a paramedic program in sister city Loreto, Mexico. Photo by Don DeMaderios The Hermosa Beach Sister City Association has presented an International Humanitarian Award to firefighters Paul Hawkins and Kim Bridges, and Capt. Mike Garofano of the Hermosa Beach Fire Department for decade-plus efforts to establish a paramedic training program in sister city Loreto, Mexico. Eleven years ago the trio – all paramedics – started the program along with the Sister City Association, and led the way as it became purportedly the only advanced life support training program of its kind in Mexico. Advanced life support includes the administration of intravenous substances and defibrillation. Hawkins retired from the Fire Department in July, after receiving a Sustained Superiority Award at the 36th annual South Bay Medal of Valor ceremony, at which he was recognized for outstanding service as a firefighter, a mentor, and a leader in the Loreto program. The program provides advanced life support training to qualified firefighters in Loreto…
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